ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Originate

Definition, Meaning & Examples

Pronunciation /əˈɹɪd͡ʒɪneɪt/ · Part of speech verb

Quick meaning: Originate is a verb meaning (intransitive) To come into existence; to have origin or beginning; to spring, be derived (from, with).

Meaning

(intransitive) To come into existence; to have origin or beginning; to spring, be derived (from, with).

More Meanings

  1. (transitive) To cause (someone or something) to be; to bring (someone or something) into existence; to produce or initiate a person or thing.
  2. (obsolete, rare, with 'upon') Founded on, having its origin in (something).

Example Sentences

Einstein originated the theory of relativity.
The scheme originated with the governor and council.
The financial backers who originated the Encyclopédie project in 1745 had no idea about what they were getting into.
For the first time since Douglas Fairbanks Sr. originated the role in the 1920 silent "The Mark of Zorro," the hero will be played by a Hispanic actor.

Word Forms

Synonyms for originate

Depending on context, synonyms include begin, initiate, coin, develop, rise, arise.

Antonyms for originate

Common opposites include terminate, end, destinate.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include initiate, develop, start, grow, arise, rise.

Related Dictionary Tools

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.